Undaunted by the obstacles in the path of social gatherings created by COVID-19, the Kiwanis movement in St. James, last Thursday welcomed three new clubs, making it six new clubs chartered in the past year.

Under the leadership of Immediate Past Lieutenant Governor for Division 25, Montego Bay’s Coleen Lawson-Taylor, the service organization seized the opportunity to bring people together for a common purpose under the Kiwanis banner to serve the children of their respective communities.

“There are people there who want to serve in a structured organization and who want to be affiliated with an organization such as Kiwanis,” said Lawson-Taylor in an exclusive interview, adding, “They were just waiting to be approached.”

While giving credit to persons who opt to serve on an individual basis, she underscored the benefits of being in a structured organization that also offers training, networking and travel opportunities among other perks.

With Kiwanis now focused on helping young people, its motto has changed from “We Build” to “Serving the Children of the World” and in that regard membership of MoBay Aktion Club comprises students up to university level and Cornwall Action Club, which seeks to empower disabled persons and are mentored by their sponsor, the Kiwanis Club of Providence.

The other recently chartered clubs are Montego West Village with members within the gated community and Cornwall Court Porto Bello Jamaica, which draws members from the neighbouring communities. Previously Lawson-Taylor also presided over the chartering of the Kiwanis Club of Outameni which meets and plans virtually but implements projects on the ground wherever it chooses; Division 25 Jamaica Club and Darliston Supreme Club.

The 23 clubs that are now in Division 25 Cornwall have an active membership of 780 Kiwanians, moving from just over 530 at the start of her year as Lieutenant Governor.

Lawson-Taylor’s passion to serve has earned her numerous awards in Kiwanis, the most recent being the Kiwanis Foundation Godfrey Dyer Medallion Award for excellence, presented to her on charter night.

For her, “The passion to serve may have been something I was born with. I was a Jaycee and was in police youth cub before I was invited to Kiwanis. I joined as chairman and I like what it was and I dived in.” She performed in several officers’ posts, rising to the top of her club as a Distinguished President and earning the popular vote to be elected Lieutenant Governor of the Division. Her new duty involves her serving the Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District as the lead membership recruiter.

The virtual charter ceremony was addressed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Homer Davis who said the new clubs were being chartered “at a time when the demand for service is high,” and charged them to live up to the theme, “Chartered to impact change: Kiwanis reaching out to our communities.” He told them to lead from the front but deliver service from the heart.

Tommy Lee may take vaccine in prison

Andre Williams

October 6, 2021

903

Tommy Lee Sparta is considering getting the Covid vaccine in prison according to his attorney who revealed he’s battling a lifestyle illness.

As the hot topic among dancehall artistes continues to surround whether to get vaccinated or not, at least one artiste, Tommy Lee Sparta, is giving it some serious consideration. That’s according to his attorney-at-law Donahue Martin, who said that the incarcerated artiste is giving some serious thought about whether or not to take the Covid-19 vaccine because he’s thinking about the safety of his family.

While he hasn’t made up his mind as yet, Martin revealed that the artiste’s overall mood was very pleasant and that during a visit, he asked him how his family is doing, which seems to be his major concern at the moment.

Tommy Lee Sparta has been behind bars since he was arrested last December on gun and ammunition charges. He is currently serving two prison sentences concurrently. Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell, is serving three years for illegal possession of a firearm and two years for illegal possession of ammunition.

Martin also took the opportunity to let fans know that the “Hold On” singer is currently battling an illness but said that he could not reveal exactly what it was, as he was not given permission to do so. Concerns were raised back in July 2020, when he experienced vomiting and was rushed to the hospital while behind bars.

“I am not at liberty to say the nature of his illness, but he does have what some would describe as a lifestyle disease,” he said.

Jamaica battle USA

Andre Williams

October 6, 2021

236

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Injury-ravaged Jamaica faces an uphill task to open their win column in the CONCACAF Final round World Cup qualifiers when they come up against bitter old rivals United States in a crucial encounter tomorrow ( Thursday, October 7) at the Q 2 Stadium in Texas.
The Jamaicans who will be missing a few first team players due to injury, occupy rock bottom of the standings and will be in search of vital points when they collide with their hosts, who themselves will be hoping to kick start their campaign, having recorded just a solitary victory from their previous three outings.

Jamaica’ Reggae Boyz, hold up the other seven teams and has failed to win any of their matches to date, occupying bottom of the pack on just a single point, and with the worst defense, already conceding six goals the most by any team.

USA in the meantime, though not at their best, sits third in the standings on five points, just two off the table toppers and regional giants Mexico.
The contest is expected to be an exciting affair as both will be seeking crucial points in a bid to kick start their campaign.
Jamaica and their coach Theodore Whitmore know what’s at stake and despite missing some key components including the English pair of central defender Liam Moore and midfielder Daniel Johnson will be gunning for a solid performance and a massive three points…..” We know it won’t be an easy task, but we have what it takes to challenge…, it will take a cohesive effort and requires us taking our chances when we get them, but it’s attainable (victory) like I said we just have to be clinical and very sharp infront of goal”, Whitmore said.

The match is set for 7:30 p.m. Jamaica time.

In other games on the day, Honduras and Costa Rica, 6th and 7th in the standings face each other while it will be a top of the table collision when leaders Mexico play at home to inform Canada and El Salvador battle Panama in the mid-table battle.

The teams will all be back in action three days later on October 10, where Jamaica is down to host Canada at the National Stadium.

The top three teams earn a direct berth to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, while the fourth-place team advances to an intercontinental playoff. The first standings tiebreakers are (1) goal difference, (2) goals scored and (3) most points obtained from matches between teams that are tied. The full list of tiebreakers follows below.

Residents protest water woes in Trelawny

Andre Williams

September 29, 2021

PUMP — Councillor Jonathan Bartley points at the pump that continues to break down as the cause of the water woes for residents of Bounty Hall

Shamir Brown

Several residents of the Bounty Hall community in Trelawny took to the streets on Tuesday to protest what they deem as poor service in relation to their water supply.

The residents say that they have grown increasingly frustrated at the frequent disruptions to their water supply and on Tuesday they decided that they would use a peaceful protest to air their grouses. Currently sections of the community have been without the precious resource for close to two weeks and this disruption, residents say, is the third time in less than two months. This latest occurrence has been attributed to a broken-down pump, the said pump which has been responsible for many of the other times that the community has been without water.

The residents are calling on the authorities to find a permanent fix to the problem. One female pointed out that the situation has been going on for too long. “I’m 57 years old and from mi born till now we having water problem,” noting that the lack of water impacted their lives in a number of ways, including preventing her from getting her vaccine shot. “A lot of persons go up there (community clinic) fi tek them COVID vaccine yesterday, dem second shot and no water” opining that the shot might be expired by the time things are sorted out.

Another resident noted that the older folks are more seriously affected, “I think that they need to get a better system because the people are suffering. The older people, a lot of us can’t get a shower, we can’t even use the bathroom. We can’t go to the bushes no more, we too old to go to the bushes, so we have to have water, we are paying our bills. So, we need the Water Commission to send water to us and not just a truck” he stated.

Also on the scene was Councillor for the Wakefield division, Jonathan Bartley agrees that the situation has been going on for too long. “We get water from the Queen of Spain Valley where it is pumped up to the reservoir and where it is gravity fed to Montego Bay. However, there is a pump used to direct the water to us in Bounty Hall. For years that pump continues to break down and they fix it but it keeps breaking down” he disclosed, highlighting that he too has grown frustrated as he also lives in the area.

SECOND PUMP
Councillor Bartley said the situation can be remedied by adding a second pump, a view he notes is shared by Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Last year I brought the situation to the attention of the Prime Minister, who was in the area. Luckily Mr Mark Barnett (President of the National Water Commission) and Mr Kerr, the Vice President, were on the scene and the Prime Minister talked about the situation and asked the water commission to install a second pump, because that is what we need,” the former mayor related.

He explained that the benefit of the second pump would allow for any time one pump is down, then it could take up the work until the other pump is repaired. He notes he has been making queries to the NWC since last September and each time he is told that the pump has been ordered but it has not been acquired as yet.

He said that another alternative would be that when the pump is down, they bypass it and allow the water that is being pumped from the Queen of Spain system to go directly into the community. “I spoke to them and asked them to make this adjustment, but they say that it would not benefit everybody, just about fifty percent of those affected, but that would be better than what we have here”.

Residents currently without water are asked to get the precious commodity from a truck that has been dispatched to the area, however, there have been complaints as to how the water has been distributed with some persons saying that it is not being done in an orderly manner and are upset with the personnel doing the job. “When the water truck come Sunday, the man tell we say him get list fi water who and who and a only him coworker them alone him come fi water. So, mi want to know if a water commission people alone fi get water fi use” one protester argued.

Despite the protest, a visit to the pump house on Tuesday saw workmen from the NWC effecting repairs to the pump which is expected to be up and running in short order. However, the residents suggest that this will only last a few days and then they will be in the same situation again.

Learning loss & COVID-19: Why aren’t we doing more to improve the situation for children?

Andre Williams

September 29, 2021

6776

The Editor,
Dear Sir,

The government remains uncertain in its approach to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our children. The Ministry of Education has stated that there will be a return to face-to-face classes when 65% of students in a particular school have been vaccinated. The Ministry of Health, on the other hand, has ceased distribution of the only vaccine that is available for children aged 12 years and older, due to supply. There can be no mandate on vaccine uptake for face-to-face learning if there are insufficient supplies of the Pfizer vaccine. Compounded with this are the many issues presented by online learning, as Jamaican students are finding it difficult to access online platforms, and many are being left behind as their right to education is treated as a non-priority.

According to the WHO, herd immunity achieved through vaccine uptake is encouraged, and is seen as the safest way to manage the pandemic without a further burden on the healthcare system. Herd immunity is necessary in schools to ensure maximum protection of our children, especially for those whose medical contraindications and age will prevent them from being able to take the vaccine.

The government must prioritize availability of the Pfizer vaccine, and focus on encouraging Pfizer uptake among children, and uptake of other vaccines among adults. Further, there needs to be consistent reports on the number of children who have been vaccinated and the progress schools are making towards the 65% requirement. Equally, the Government should be providing regular reports on COVID-19 infections amongst children and the nature and severity of their conditions.

The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network encourages teachers and school staff to get vaccinated, especially those that work with children who are under 12, who cannot yet receive any vaccine and are often in close contact with their teachers and peers. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education should make it a priority to have vaccine information drives in schools, targeting staff. As with vaccine uptake in children, the public should be consistently informed of vaccination progress amongst educators.

ADDRESSING ONLINE LEARNING ISSUES
The current unavailability of the Pfizer vaccine means there will be a delay in opening schools for face-to- face learning, and so there is the need for us to recognize the implications this has on ensuring the right to education for our children. The continuation of online classes through platforms such as Google Meet and Teams allow students to access learning opportunities and to be seen and heard by their teachers and peers, satisfying both learning outcomes and social interactions, however limited.

In 2017, the World Bank reported that only 55% of Jamaicans had access to and were using the internet. In 2021, we continue to contend with a digital divide and an environment that is not suited to facilitate online sessions as the primary source of learning. We are not sure what currently obtains and are guided by the anecdotal reports from students, parents and teachers over the last 18 months. What is apparent is that the challenges of online learning persist with insufficient interventions.

While schools await the go ahead for face-to-face learning, the Government’s focus should be ensuring that the alternatives being put forward are available, accessible and acceptable to all children for this new school year.

It is not sufficient to mandate online classes, without ensuring provisions are made for widely available and accessible internet access, especially in harder to reach communities. The Government needs to be able to answer: how many children have internet access without having to rely on data? Where internet access is available, is it affordable for the average student? If the internet is available and affordable, is it working? In the absence of internet access, can the average student afford data to sustain an entire day of school? The answers to these questions determine the interventions needed to ensure proper implementation of online classes. Getting the answers to these questions requires constant interaction with schools, and assessment of their situation and their capabilities for rolling out and sustaining online learning. With this information there can be swift action to address all issues and gaps. Without this information and some solutions, we continue to do a disservice to our children.

Shereika Mills
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator,
Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN)
advocacy@youthadvocateja.org

Government to erect bust of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry in Hanover – Grange

Andre Williams

September 29, 2021

WOMAD Festival 2013 - Day 2 — Lee 'Scratch' Perry

Government has announced plans to erect a bust of the late Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry in his native parish of Hanover.

The announcement was made in a tribute by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, which was read by Tamika Davis, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hanover Western, at the graveside during last Thursday’s brief funeral for the late reggae icon.

Perry was laid to rest at a family plot in Cauldwell, Hanover.

“To his widow, Mirella, (his) children, siblings, and other relatives, it is my intention to honour him with a bust to be erected in Hanover as a fitting tribute to one of the parish’s greatest sons, as part of the Jamaica 60 Diamond Jubilee celebrations,” was stated by Davis as part of Grange’s tribute to Perry.

Grange added that, “I am saddened by his transition, but at the same time, grateful for the enduring monuments – his music, his hits, his personality, his fashion, his philosophy.”

The Grammy Award-winning Jamaican music pioneer died in August at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover after battling illness for some time.

Perry was 85 years old.

Wadadah given until Friday

Andre Williams

September 29, 2021

6306

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

In what has turned out to be a race against time and a desperate bid to fulfill their more than decade old dream of a return to the nation’s top flight premier league; Wadadah and its hierarchy say they have been given until the end of business on Friday, October 1, to produce the documents and meet the criteria set by the competition’s department of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in order to compete in the one off play-off encounter.

Wadadah, third place finishers in the last play-offs back in 2019 is scheduled to engage Montego Bay United, the 11th place finishers in the last Premier League in a play-off for a return to the league on October 6, at the Captain Horace Burrell field in Kingston.

The game had originally been set for October 2, would see Montego Bay United, relegated from the League two seasons ago, given the automatic slot, should Wadadah fail to meet the criteria.
The winner would gain an automatic qualification to play in the Jamaica Premier League.

Head coach and operations manager of the team, Daniel Ricketts who made the requests public, told the Western Mirror from his offices on Tuesday afternoon that he had been given a deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, “to come up with the documents”.

According to Ricketts, “the JFF has pointed out that the club must have a bank account to begin the registration of the club which has been in operation now for more than three decades”. But Ricketts further adds that in order for that to happen he must apply to Companies Office and be registered, a move he says is in process.

However he says because of previous ownership and the death of Gene Gray, the longtime founder and owner, and no executor or a will for someone to sign over the club the holdup has been ongoing.

He also disclosed that following several meetings recently it has been suggested to him in recent days that in order to make the registration with the Companies Office, he could leave off the ‘H’, naming the team WADADA.

He told the Western Mirror he accepted the suggestion and made the registration on Monday afternoon, and now awaits the process of setting up the vital bank account, a move he was actively pursuing late on Tuesday, September 28, when we spoke with him.

“Am heading out now to a particular bank to see how best we get an account set up and hopefully that works out in our best interest he adamantly declared, It’s another step towards the chance we have been given and we would like to give it our best shot, so we push on as a club with every stride, as we must have every document in by Friday”.

Despite not having all the pieces yet in place Ricketts who has been lashing out against the competitions department at the JFF for its handling of the matter, says he and his team have been going through the paces ahead of the possible match.

”We have been holding some training sessions while still trying to maintain the protocols set by the government, it has not been an easy task, but with each day we learn and try to move forward so, it has not all been doom and gloom at the club since we heard about this opportunity, he said. It’s been a while since Wadadah last played in the Premier League, so that in itself is a motivation for the youngsters, and me, once a player at the club and we would really like to make it happen”.

Wadadah was relegated from the then National Premier League, back in the 2006/07 season and has not been back there since.
Wadadah and or Montego Bay United will be hoping to replace UWI who dropped down to the lower league after withdrawing from the ongoing season due to financial constraints.

7-DAY LOCKDOWN

admin

August 20, 2021

671

Facing a grave situation with the transmission of the coronavirus, Covid-19, Government has imposed a seven-day islandwide lockdown between August 22 and September 5, 2021.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the lockdown days, revised curfew hours and further limitations in group gatherings at a Press Conference last night.

There will be absolutely “no movement” permitted Sunday, August 22 to Tuesday, August 24, also from Sunday, August 29 to Tuesday, August 31, as well as Sunday, September 5 to prevent further transmission. “If you don’t have to move, tan a yu yard,” he implored.

On the designated ‘no movement’ days the curfew hours will run the entire day. However, for today only, to allow for preparationthe curfew hours will run from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 tomorrow morning, and from 8:00 p.m. on Saturday continuing over the next three days. In between the ‘no movement days, the curfew will run from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following morning.

Prime Minster Holness said the ‘no movement days” should “effectively break the transmission of the virus” and the police will be ensuring strict adherence to the measures outlined.

On the ‘no movement days persons who are able to work from home are expected to be productive. Also, today, August 20 and next week Friday, “workplaces/businesses will be required to close at mid-day,” said Mr. Holness but there are a number of exceptions, including the courts, food establishments, petrol stations, security services, banks,financial services, transportation, the health services, including pharmacies, the BPO sector, Tax Administration, Customs, PICA among others.

He said based on the latest report yesterday morning “Jamaica recorded 555 new cases of Covid-19 and a positivity rate of 41.9 percent.” There were an additional three deaths as a result of the pandemic while confirmation has come of the deadly Delta variant spreading here.

Despite the ‘no movement’ days and extended curfew hours, the vaccination programme will continue with certain vaccination sites remaining open.

Figures given by Chief Medical Officer, Dr JacquilineBisasor-McKenzie show that the County of Cornwall, in particular the parishes of Westmoreland, St James, Trelawny and St Elizabeth figure prominently in the high transmission and death rates.

Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer

Clayton lands gold for Jamaica

admin

August 20, 2021

1418

Sprint sensation Tina Clayton delivered herself a belated birthday gift when she sped to a personal best 11.09 seconds to land the Women’s 100 metres gold medal at the World Under 20 Championships in Nairobi Kenya on Thursday morning.

Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi took the silver in 11.39 while Switzerland’s Melissa Gutschmidt pipped Nigeria’s Praise Ofoku to the bronze medal, clocking a time of 11.51.

Jamaica’s other representative in the event, Kerrica Hill, could only manage seventh in 11.67.

Clayton’s win opened Jamaica’s medal tally at the games and underlines the island’s World dominance of the Women’s 100 metre sprint as Elaine Thompsons Herah is the Olympic 100 metres champion and Shelly Ann Frasrer Pryce is the World 100 metres champion.
Clayton, who has roots in Westmoreland, follows the footsteps of her compatriot and double Sprint champion, Briana Williams, who mined gold in both the 100 and two hundred metres in Tampere, Finland in 2018.

Clayton’s 11.09 clocking betters her former personal best of 11.17 set while racing to gold at the NACAC U18 Championships in San Jose Costa Rica in July.

Meanwhile, Jamaica had no representation in the Men’s 100m final at the championships as both medal contenders failed to progress from their semi-finals.

Bryan Levell, had a false start in his semi-final while Alicke Cranston finished eighth in his heat, clocking 10.94 seconds.
The event was won by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a time of 10.19 seconds ahead of South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson 10.28 and Cuba’s Shanier Rengifo.

Earlier, Jamaica’s Kobe Lawrence finished eighth in the men’s Shot Put with an effort of 18.32m. Cuba’s Juan Carley Vasquez Gomez won the gold medal with a throw of 19.73m. Belarus’ Yauheni Bryhi took silver with a personal best throw of 19.70m and Switzerland’s Jephte Vogel, the bronze, with 19.16m.

Jamaica missed out on a podium finish on the first day of competition (Wednesday ) in the inaugural staging of the 4×4 metres mixed relay, at the championship when the quartet of Shaemar Uter, Alliah Baker, Aalliyah Francis amd Malachi Johnson completed the race in a season’s best of 3:20.60 for a fourth place finish. The gold medal went to Nigeria.

Barrington Flemming
Staff Reporter

VMBS remains committed

admin

August 20, 2021

1166

Despite the continued absence of game time and the extended uncertainity surrounding the playing of footbll on the island, banking institution, Victoria Mutual Building Society ( VMBS) has continued its pledge of support to the age old annualSt. James under 13 football competition.

In pledging their support and reaffirming their commitment, VMBS recently handed over several team jerseys to schools who had indicated their intentions to participate in the annual competion, just befor the pandemic struck.
VMBS has been involved in the competition for some 32 years, through sponsorship.

The teams handed jerseys include 7-times reigning champions Granville All Age who has held the trophy now for some three seasons, because of the none playing of the competition, many times finalists and former winners Corinaldi Avenue Primary, Irwin, Barracks Road, Catherine Hall, Chetwood Memorial Primary, Barrett Town, Success, Mount Salem, Gledevon, DMP Academy, Green Pond Primary, Bethel, Bogue.

The likes of former champions Howard Cooke, St. James Prep, Montego Bay Prep, Montego Bay Christiana Academy, Heinz Simonitsch, Catadupa, Bickersteth, Maldon, Johns Hall, Roehampton, Dumfries, Lethe, Buckingham, Somerton finalists back in 2014, Salt Spring, and two former champions Anchovy and Flankers are down to receive later this week.

Longtime coordinator of the competition, Hopeton Gilchrist told the Western Mirror he was delighted with the gesture adding, he also is committed to the cause and the competition……” I am really delighted to know that VMBS has pledged to stay on board with us, this is an important competition for the parish (St. James) many players on our national teams, including youth ones started out here so, we (the organisers) are keen to keep it going. As with most competitions, sponsorship, mney is needed so t is just comforting to know that already that aspect has been taken care of as we have been given that assurance, I am really, really happy for that , having that security, it’s refreshing,” Gilchrist noted.

The VMBS under-13 competition has been absent from the calendar for the past two seasons, 2020 and 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic which hit in March of 2020, crippling the world.

Noelita Lawrence Ricketts

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